Living with live music
During the winter, I share space with more than half a million other people, and yet rarely hear a live musical performance. That’s why summer vacation spoils me.
We happened to catch the last part of a concert in downtown Souris this afternoon, showcasing Tim Chaisson & Morning Fold. Purely a case of good luck; we were loading groceries into the back of the car when I heard some drumming on the winds. The show was upscale, rock; a generation removed from the acoustic set Tim presented last weekend. And yes, we stayed to visit the “merch” stand and watch a steady procession of starstruck fans get their picture taken with the man.
The evening brought things up a notch. We returned to Rock Barra Retreat for another Sunday concert. This time, the car was parked closer to the top of the fields, and the seating on the balcony less congested. I managed to get my toes warmed by the lone dog who had kept his master in view while lazing in front of my cot seating. The same dog that led a band of merry children along the rooftop, a little later in the evening.
On stage, the opening part of our evening showcased Marcus Lutterman and Gary Turlone, Islanders by desire, and their wonderful acoustic guitar mix. Gary also did some work with a hand made flute, after explaining the mechanics of his instrument.
The second half of the concert opened with a short “call and response” song by Teresa Doyle, in Gaelic. She noted that that the absence of any native speakers in the room would not have been the case, a century ago.
But on to the main reason for our attendance: October Browne. This is the second year I’ve had the chance to listen to October with her guitars and cittern. Here’s an early hope that she’ll be back next summer. I added two more CDs to my library, and managed to control my urge to cough for the whole evening. After all, I was there to listen…
